Go-cart.



V. F. PIGKERT.

GO-GART.

APPLICATION I'ILED 00T.30,' 1908.

Patent-,ea Apry18, 1909.

2 SHETS-BHEET 2.

TH: NoRms FE o', wAsHlNcraN. n. c.

VINCENT F. PIOKERT, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

GO-GART.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed October 30, 1908. Serial No. 460,334.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ViNcnN'r F. PicKER'r, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing' at Atlanta, in the county of Fnlton and State ofGeorgia, have invented new and useful Improvernents in Go-Carts, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to g'o-carts convertible into a cradle andparticularly intcnded for indoor' use as well as on porches and in`yards of dwellings, and the primary object of Vtages in view, theinvention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts whichWill be more fully hereinafter specificd in preferred form andillustrative of one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: Figurc 1 is a pers'pective view of the frame and handleof a g'o-cart embodying` the features of the invcntion and showing thebody or basket removed and portions of the frame clevatcd to adapt thecart for use as a cradle. Fig'. 2 is a sectional elevation of the cartshowing' the body in place, the body being' elcvated and free to swingas a cradle. Fig'. 3 is a side elevation of the cart and body showncollapsed or reduced to compact form and disposed under a bed, thelatter being shown in dottcd lines. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectivc viewof the body shown arrang'ed for use. Fig'. 5 is an end elovation of thebody or basket shown collapsed.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate axles provided With suitable Wheels 3 andpairs of frame bars or arms 4 and 5, the frame bars or arms 4 beingterminally fixed to the aXle 1 and the frame bars or arms 5 to the axle2. The frame bars or arms 5 intersect the pair of frame bars or arms 4and extend inside of the latter, the intersecting' pairs of frame barsbeing 'fulcrumed and connected by cross rod 6, the said rod alsoserving` as a tie means for the pairs of frame bars. The pairs of arms 4and 5 are crossed at such intermediate points with relation to eachother that the upper extremities thereof will project equally in reversedirections .from the rod 6 and to the free ends of each pair of armsswinging hangers 7 are applied and comprise depending arms 8 movablyattached to the ends of the .frame bars or arms 4 and 5 and connecting`rods 9. The frame bars or arms 4 and 5 also have pairs of toggle links10 and 11 movably attached thereto respectively, and pivoted to eachother by fulcrum pins as at 12, the ends of the links 10 being appliedagainst the outer sides of the links 11. Operating bars 13 are alsofulcrumed on the outwardly projecting ends of the rod 6 and bear againstthe outer sides of the frame bars or arms 4, said Operating,` bars beingconnected at one end by a cross bar 14 and having the extremitiesthereof fulcrumed on the rod 6 provided with angular extensions 15 whichpractically serve as bell cranks and have their free ends beveled as at16, see Figs. 2 and 3. The bars 1.3 and cross bar 14 unitedly constitutea handle for pushing the cart or device as well as an Operating meansfor raising and lowering the frame of the gocart, and the said handle orOperating means is thrown over in o pposite directions to adjust theframe bars. Draw links 17 are connected to the angular extensions 15 andthe fulcrum pins 1.2 of the links 10 and 11 so that the movement of thehandle or operatingl means in opposite directions over the framework orthe body supporting frarzne of the go-cart will operate the parts of theframe in such manner that the Wheels 3 will be drawn toward each otherwhen the device is arranged for use as a cradle and as shown by Fig. 1,or said Wheels will be forced apart togetherwith their axles when theOperating handle or the connected bars 13 are thrown over in a directionreversc to that shown by Fig. 1 or as illustrated by Fig. 3. The togglelinks 10 and 1.1 and the draw links 17 constitute the contractinc` andoxpanding' means for the axles 1 and 2 and the wheels 3 through themedium of the pairs of frame bars 4 and 5, when actuatod by theoperating handle in the manner just explained or when the Operatinghandle is thrown over the axle 2, the draw links 17 are depressed andforce the connected ends of the toggle links 10 and 1.1. downwardly anddraw the pairs of frame bars toward each other, whereas when theoperatinq handle is thrown over the axle 1 the draw links 17 pullupwardly on the toggle links 10 and 11 and expand or release the pairsof frame bars 4 and 5 and permit the latter to depress into asubstantially horizontal plane, as shown by Fig. 3. The two adjustnientscan be readily carried on without requiring the manipulation ofreleasing` or fastening devices. *When the frame bars are in theposition shown by Fig. 1, the beveled ends 16 of the extensions 15forming,` parts of the bars 13 frictionally bear on the upper edO'es ofthe links 10 and serve as a looking means or an effective auxiliary toprevent accidental collapsing of the frameV bars, and such engagement ofthe ends of the extensions With the links 10 also prevents too loosemovenient of the Operating handle ccmprising the bars 13 and 1-1.

The go-cart or improved device also embodies a basket or body 18 shownin detail in two conditions by lfigs. 4 and 5. This body or basket willbe preferably formed of woven willow or analogous open material and issupported in the hangers '7, as shown by Fig'. 2, When the g'o-cart isarranged for use as a cradle but is let down on the axles when thego-cart is adapted for ordinary trundling` purposes or when collapsed,as shown by Fig. 3, the hangers easily and positively cooperating withthe body 01' basket to raise it or lower it in accordance with themovement or adjustment of the OperatingI handle either over the aXle 2or the axle 1. The bed or basket 18 is collapsible and comprises a bot--tom 19 having' side fiang'es 20 to which opposite side members 21 arehing'ed and adapted to be inwardly folded. The one side meirber 21 hasthe ends 22 hinged thereto and the eoperating side is formed with innerrecesses or grooves 23 to removably receive the free extremities of thesaid ends 22, the grooves or recesses 23 being formed in the ends of theone side, as shown and prevent accidental collapsing` of the sides andends when the bed or basket is arranged for use. The bed or basket maybe collapsed as shown by Figs. 3 and 5, the ends 22 being first releasedand folded inwardly against the inner side of one of the side members 21and the latter with the ends then turned downwardly between the flanges20 of the bottom 19 and the remaining' side 21 then folded over thepreviously folded side member carrying' the ends. This collapsiblestructure of the body or basket renders the same convenient for shipmentor storage and also permits the gocart as a whole to be temporarilydisposed under a bed or other device or article of furniture when it isdesired to place the go-cart where it may be readily accessible withoutoccupying unnecessary floor space. To prevent the body or basiiet fromslippin' on the hangers, the bottom 18 has pairs of spring` clips 24secured to opposite cxtremities on the lower side to separa bly receivethe rods 9 of the hangers. The rcds 9 readily slip into and out of thesaid clips when the body is raised and lowered.

The body or basket is of such length as to readily serve as a cradlebody or it may be removed entirely from the vehicle part of the deviceand placed on a floor to hold a child in a nursery or on a porch or lawnand thus serve as a support or a play receptacle. The frame of thego-cart will be constructed of light metallic bars strong'ly connectedand the device a whole may be cheaply manufactured.

Vfhat is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a vehicleframe composed of movably connected parts and including axles providedwith Wheels, the frame being' elevatable and collapsible, and a bodyremovably held by the frame and elevatable and depressible with thelatter, the body when elevated being` suspended for swinging' movementand when depressed disposed on the aXles.

2. In a device of the classy described, the combination of a collapsiblevehicle frame including` aXles provided with Wheels and means forelevating` and depressing' the same, and a body removably held by theframe and suspended for swinging movement to form a cradle within theframe, the body When suspended being free for longitudinal oscillatino'movement but prevented from having' latera movement in the frame anddisposed on the axles and detached from said frame when depressed.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a vehicleframe composed of movably connected collapsible arts and includinp'aXles provided with w eels and means for elevating and depressing` theframe and movable in opposite directions over the remainingI parts ofthe frame, the said means serving as a handle for propelling' thedevice, and a body removably held in the frame and having` a swingingmovement when the frame is elevated and supported direct by the axleswhen the frame is depressed.

4. ln a device of the class described, the combination of a frame havingmeans for elevating` and collapsingl the same and including axlescarrying Wheels, and a body removably held in the frame and having aself-detaching` operation from the frame when the latter is lowered andsuspended when the frame is elevated for longitudinal swinging movementwithin the frame and disposed on the axles and detached from said framewhen depressed.

5. ln a device of the class described, the combination of an elevatableand collapsible frame including axles carrying Wheels and suspendingmeans, and a body removably held in the frame and elevated and depressedby the suspending means, the body when elevated being longitudinall roscillatable and when depressed having bearing` on the aXles anddetached from the suspending means.

6. ln a device of the class described, the combination of an elevatableand collapsible frame having swinging body engaging means, and a bodyremovably mounted in the frame and the said means and having alongitudinally swinging movement through the medium of the said means,the sWinging body engaging means having a self-detaching and attachingoperation With relation to the;

body When the latter is respectively loWered and elevated.

7. In a device of the class deseribed, a movable and collapsible frame,and a bodjv removably and adjnstably held in. the said frame and capableof having a longitndinal swinging actuation When adjnsted in elevatedposition and held against swinging movement When adjusted in. loweredposition..

8. In a device ef the class described, an ad'ustableand collapsiblevehicle frame provided With Wheels, and a collapsible body removablymounted in the said frame and having the bottom thereof separablyengaged by portions of said frame, the frame having a self-detachingoperation with relation to the body When the latter is lowered.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of axles carryingWheels and having frame bars fixed thereto and intermediatelyintersecting each other and movably connected, an Operating meansmovably attached to the frame bars and adapted to be thrown over eitheraxle, and contracting and expanding means attached to said Operatingmeans below the points of connection of the frame bars, the contractingand expanding means being attached to said frame bars.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of axlescarrying Wheels and having frame bars fixed thereto and intermediatelyintersecting each other and movabljv connected, an Operating meansmovabljf attached to the frame bars and adapted to be thrown over eitheraxle, expanding and contracting means attaehed to the framebars, andmovable connections between portions of the Operating means and theexpanding and contraeting means.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of axlescarrying Wheels and having intersecting movably connected frame barssecnred thereto, Operating means for raising and lowering the frame bars, swinging hangers carried by the upper extremities of the framebars, and a body removabl)r engaged by the swinging l'iangers.

12. In a device of the class descri'oed, the combination of a vehicleframe including Wheeled axles, the said frame being elevatable anddepressible, sWinging hangers carried by pertions of the frame, and abody removablT engaging the said hangers, the hangers having aself-detaching and attaching operation When the body is respectivelydepressed and elevated.

13. In a device of the class deser-med, an

adjnstable and collapsible vehicle frame provided With Wheels, swinginghangers carried by parts of the frame, and a body removably engaged bythe sWinging hangers, the hangers having a self engaging andlisengagingl movement With relation to the body.

H. ln a device of the class described, an adjustable vehicle frameprovided With Wheels, hangers connected to parts of the vehicle frame,operating means for elevating and depressing the frame, and a bodyremovably engaged by the hz'mgers, the hangers having a eelf-engagingand disengaging movement `With relation to the body.

15. In a device of the class described, an adjustable vehicle frameprovided with Wheels, an Operating handle connected to opposite portionsof the frame and provided. With extensions, the operating handle beingmovable in reverse directions over different. port-ions of the frame,expanding and contrz'acting devices connected to parts of the frame andthe extensions of the said handle, the terminals of theiextensions ofthe handle engaging portions of the expanding and contracting means whenthe handle is in one position, and a body mo'unted in the frame.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of axlescarrying Wheels and having frame bars fixed thereto and intermediatelyinterseeting each other and movably connected, Operating means movablyattached to the frame bars'and adapted to be thrown over either axle,the said operating` means having angular extensions, contraeting andexpanding means movably attached to the frame bars, draw means movablyconnected to the expanding and contracting means and to the angularextensions of the operating means, and a body monntcd in the frame barsand movable With the latter.

17. in a device of the class described, the combination of axlescarrying Wheels and having frame bars fixed thereto and intermediatelyintersecting each other and movably mnmected, hangers attachet't to theupper extremities of the frame bars, Operating means movabh' at tachedto the frame bars and adapted to be throWn over either axle, the saidoperating means havingI angular extensions, contracting and expandinglmeans movably attached to the frame bars, draw means movably connectedto the expanding and. cont'racting means and to the angular extensionsof the operating means, and a body removably monnted in the hangers and.elevatable and depressible by the latter.

ln testimony Whereof I have herennto set my hand in presence of tWosnbscribing Witnesses.

YINFEN'F F. PICKRT.

fitnessesz 'I`. O. PARKER, A. E. Bnonmn.

